Oliver Jeffers, arguably the most influential creator of picture books today, offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child—and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home. Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers’ user’s guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet’s terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver’s signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents.

What Kind of Book is Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth

Topics

kindness the world outer space social themes new experiences family new babies conservation Earth

Genres

funny and humorous fiction

Reviews

Lauren Hancock

6.00

Here We Are is just a little bit quirky, just a little bit silly, and absolutely darling all the way through. The illustrations are cute, and they somehow get cuter the more you look at them. The message is wonderful: we're all here on earth, with lots of things to see and lots of people to help you when you need it. I love giving this as a new baby gift, and I love reading it to my own kids.

Mr. Staccato

5.75

Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful message about the earth, the people and animals on it, and our opportunity to care for and respect each other. It may be a little deep for younger kids.

The Notorious RAD

6.50

What a fantastic story that applies to all little ones. We can all be kind in this big world we live in.

The Goodfather

7.00

Book Lists That Include This Book

Books about kindness

Books about the world

Books about outer space

The Creative Behind the Book

Author & Illustrator

Oliver Jeffers

OLIVER JEFFERS makes art and tells stories. His books include How to Catch a Star, Lost and Found, which was the recipient of the prestigious Nestle Children’s Book Prize Gold Award in the U.K. and was later adapted into an award-winning animated film; and the New York Times bestsellers Stuck, This Moose Belongs to Me and Once Upon an Alphabet. He is also, of course, the illustrator of the #1 smash hits The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, both written by Drew Daywalt.His fine art is world-renowned and his dip-art exhibitions are a much sought-after event. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oliver now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and young son.